Monday, 25 March 2019

Sad news that Fr Milan Norbert Badal died yesterday aged just 62. A Chaplain to the Order, he was also personal secretary to our Chaplain General, the Cardinal Archbishop of Prague, Dominika Duka, assisting particularly with media related issues.

Between 2003 and 2009, Milan Badal served as vice-president of the Czech television Council. Between 2015 and 2016 he was deputy chairman Of the Czech Radio Council.

From 1996 to 2003 he served as editor-In-chief of the Catholic weekly newspaper.

He was Born in the town of Opočno in eastern Bohemia, 15. August 1956. He graduated from the philosophical Faculty of Charles University in Prague.He was parish priest to a parish on the outskirts of Prague at Hostivice.

He was a writer, publishing mainly with Sursum Publishing and was a contributor to the Christian Internet magazine Christnet.cz. He also published a recipe book of traditional Czech dishes.

Fr Milan last visited the UK on holiday in 2016, where the Chaplin Fr Simon Henry got him to try a pint of good northern bitter. The photo above shows that this was not a successful experiment.

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

The Grand Prior of Great Britain, His Excellency Anthony Dickinson, cordially invites all members of the noble Order, Companions, their families and guests to meet in the County of Lancashire on 12th and 13th July 2019 for the Annual Investiture of new members and the granting of promotions.

On the Friday we will gather for prayer in the Church of St John the Evangelist, Burscough. Following the Vigil the Grand Prior will host a Charity Dinner in the Orangery at Briar’s Hall.

On Saturday we gather once again at the Church of St John the Evangelist for Solemn High Mass celebrated by the Chaplain General and for the Investiture.

Mass is followed by a Reception on the lawns of Burscough House.

Guests are most welcome to attend any and all events. Members should receive the official details very shortly. Non-members are most welcome to attend. Please contact any member of the Order.

The Church was built in 1793 and partly disguised with false windows making it look like a grand Manor House. Hence the presbytery’s designation as “Burscough Hall”. This was to keep a low profile at a time when Catholicism was still censured by law. It was extended with a bell tower and porch in the early twentieth century. Much of the land as you drive up the private Road of Chapel Lane once belonged to the church, which still includes a school, cemetery and fields stretching down to Abbey Brook.

There has been a house on the site since the 16th century but the present building dates mainly from a rebuilding of 1745 for the Ashton family. It consists of a three storey three bay house with lower and later wings to either side; the larger right-hand wing and the porch and bay window on the end elevation to the left represent the extensions made for John Ainscough after he bought the estate in 1902. The house has been a hotel since 1970. Beautifully located in 5 acres of mature gardens and woodland. It offers olden charm with modern comfort and service.